The air quality in Delhi turned “poor” on Wednesday and the situation may further deteriorate in the next few days, according to SAFAR, a government agency that monitors air pollution.
The day-long average of particulate matters PM 2.5 and PM 10 were 94 and 178 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3). The safe limits for PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 60 and 100 ug/m3, respectively.
The air quality index of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was ‘poor’, which means that people will have breathing discomfort on prolonged exposure to such air.
An official of the CPCB attributed the rise in pollution levels to burning of paddy stubble in Punjab and Haryana, and meteorological conditions.
As per SAFAR, the level of PM 2.5 may breach the 100 mark while PM 10 will be around 190 ug/m3 in the next three days.
